Don't let business owners talk to the kids at school

That's getting it backwards.  View this email in your browser Howdy Friend,    It was in my local newspaper. Some business owner was doing some presentation to a classroom full of students. And I couldn't help feeling it was a missed opportunity to make more of it.  Don't send the business owner to talk to students at school. Send the students to the business and let them get hands-on.  (I even Tweeted it.) Here are at least six reasons why:      1. The students will learn a lot more from doing than from listening.      2. The business owners will learn from watching how students try things.      3. Students will learn more about at least one business that exists in the community, first hand.      4. Businesses will get a chance to observe some potential employees in the field.     5. Students get a chance to picture themselves as future business owners.      6. Getting students and teachers outside the classroom helps build community ties.  This works really well with the idea of Blue Collar Career Fairs. Read about the one in San Saba, Texas, population 3,000:  http://buff.ly/1FmtU62 The key to a successful Blue Collar Career Fair? Hands on, move some dirt, burn some metal, strip some wire demonstrations.  The key to a successful presentation by a business owner to a classroom? Don't present anything. Just bring things to do, stuff to try, tools to use. And if at all possible, hold it in the business or in the field, but not in the classroom.  Two business announcements this week.  1. If you've been wanting to ask me directly for action steps tailored to your specific situation, you can now do that through coaching calls. This is a new offering from me, and will be limited based on my availability.  beckymccray.com/coaching/ 2. Deb Brown and I are developing a mini-course to help you bring more life to your downtown or High Street. It's not available yet, but you can preview it here:  http://saveyour.town  If you want to know as soon as it's available, hit reply and I'll make sure you receive a notice.  You can shape the future of your town,  Becky  PS - Lots of small town people find themselves fundraising, without any training or preparation. Marc Pitman has small town ties and is someone I trust. He's offering excellent fundraising for nonprofits training at a very affordable cost. http://buff.ly/1Pvks8b   Unsubscribe New email address? Go here to update your profile. If you want to refer a friend to get these weekly emails, send them to sign up here: Positive View of Rural sign up You signed up for this newsletter at SmallBizSurvival.com or at BeckyMcCray.com. You'll receive this positive view of rural once a week. Small Biz Survival PO Box 8 Hopeton, OK 73746 Add us to your address book     If you like this positive view of rural, BOLDLY SHARE:  Share Tweet Share +1 Forward to Friend If you use HootSuite, you can click the Tweet button, wait for the tweet to appear, then copy the text and paste directly in HootSuite. Thanks to Tara Mastel of Montana for that tip!